Will this prevent me from Nursing School ?

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Hi all.

My school requires a personal health history and immunization records before one can enter the Nursing curriculum.

I'm a bit concerned if my history will in any way hinder me from being able to enter Nursing.

Basically, my records say depression at age 13 for which I was on an anti-depressant for 3 months, anorexia at age 14 which lasted 2 months, and most recently I went to the doctor complaining of chest pain/tightness due to stress/anxiety after my grandfather died during my finals (it was hard on me, he was very close).... my doc prescribed Buspar but I never filled the prescription becasue I felt better after a couple of days.

My nursing school will probably see this on my health history form. But right now I'm fine and excited to go into nursing, and I have no doubt my physical will go well.

Is there any reason why my past history should hinder me from getting in?

Thanks for any info

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Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

Be honest with them up front, and know that their are a ton of nurses out their (Me included) who filled that Rx, and would bite your hand off if your reached for them! Lol:jester:

I don't want to minimize your concern, but it looks as though you have nothing to worry about, you ALWAYS have the RIGHT to REFUSE a medication. Nothing wrong with your decision not to explore a treatment. That's your RIGHT!

And, the fact that your dealing with a Non Controlled med should even give you more comfort. It is just a conversation away from being "no worries," and your concern will give you credit too in their eyes. Just explain the situation to your applied school.

Best of Luck!!!

:redbeatheBoston

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I can't imagine that the person who accepts you to nursing school would have access to your complete medical history...Violation of HIPAA?

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Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

I agree Kool-aide, this information may not even have to come up, Do they already know?:confused:

Even if so, refer to prior post, if not, Do Not share your secrets, I like to keep mine under lock and key, in a locked secret compartment of my locked closet (off from the main closet).

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Specializes in DD, Mental Health, Geriatric.
I agree Kool-aide, this information may not even have to come up, Do they already know?:confused:

Even if so, refer to prior post, if not, Do Not share your secrets, I like to keep mine under lock and key, in a locked secret compartment of my locked closet (off from the main closet).

I agree! There are just some things one shouldn't over share, especially mixing personal stuff like one's medical history with work or school related stuff. I used to know someone at a LTC facility awhile back who told everyone she met at work that she smokes pot on her days off and used to be an opiate addict and had a gambling problem! (and she was the resident manager of the place!) and I always thought to myself when she was telling me all this that in her shoes I'd park that info on the doorstep! I like to keep my work/school and personal life several arm-lengths away from each other. Keep the required chit-chat very small and "how's the weather?"-like. And like Kool-Aide said it's against the law for them to have access to that info in the first place unless you signed a consent form of some type allowing them access. Though that seems odd that a school, even a nursing school, would need your health and mental health, records. But, there are plenty of caregivers and nurses out there with depression and other mental illnesses and they are still getting jobs as caregivers and nurses and working every day.

~Ami

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I found out the hard way that when you go for a physical, your prescription hx becomes available. So,...make sure your physical is done by your own doc. and not the school.

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My school physical included many DX that most may find embarassing, but I am stable and my physician states that I am FIT to practice.

I am Bi polar 2. I take an antidepressant(zoloft), a mood stabilizer for BPD (Lamictal), and a benzodiazipine (klonopin). I was DX wit the disorder in my early teens, I have sought treatment, and I am stable.

BTW, I am now a Nurse :)

Just as a side note, I think being on an antidepressant or Klonopin is a pre req for Nursing school :jester: EVERYONE seemed to be on one.

They say it takes a special person to be a nurse.. Well, I am pretty darn special :rotfl:

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Specializes in Pedi.
Hi all.

My school requires a personal health history and immunization records before one can enter the Nursing curriculum.

I'm a bit concerned if my history will in any way hinder me from being able to enter Nursing.

Basically, my records say depression at age 13 for which I was on an anti-depressant for 3 months, anorexia at age 14 which lasted 2 months, and most recently I went to the doctor complaining of chest pain/tightness due to stress/anxiety after my grandfather died during my finals (it was hard on me, he was very close).... my doc prescribed Buspar but I never filled the prescription becasue I felt better after a couple of days.

My nursing school will probably see this on my health history form. But right now I'm fine and excited to go into nursing, and I have no doubt my physical will go well.

Is there any reason why my past history should hinder me from getting in?

Thanks for any info

No. If this is a 4 year college, most require physicals/health history forms before entering the school because you'll be living on campus and they need access to that information in case of an emergency. There's no reason to think the nursing program uses this information to accept or reject potential students. You need to have up-to-date immunizations and yearly PPDs to do clinicals so that's the only reason they're looking for that information.

Your school only has access to as much information as you give them. In my experience, you fill out the form they give you and give them as much or as little information as you deem relevant. There's no reason why they should have to know the specific reason why you last saw your doctor, a medication you were prescribed and chose not to take, or a medication that you were on years ago.

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Thanks for all the info guys. I think my school actually requires you sign a waiver to release your health info... or am I wrong?

This is on the health form:

"

Present this document to your professor indicating that you have been cleared for Clinical placement:

I _________ undеrstand thе agеncy to which I am assigned may requirе more hеalth data than listed abovе.I hеreby authorize the nursing school to rеlease my hеalth clеarance information and all associatеd documеnts, including

laboratory rеports and immunization waivеrs, to any health care providеr, which may require it in connection with my participation in a clinical

course. I also understand that it is my responsibility to update my H&P and PPD required by either the Undergraduate or Graduate Programs."

Additionally:

"Establishmеnt of a hеalth rеcord on all studеnts еntering thе nursing program is required. The purposе of this health requiremеnt and clinical practice clearancе is to protеct studеnts as wеll as the cliеnts with whom

they will be working. It is also important to dеtermine that thе studеnt is able to fulfill the objectivеs of the еducational programs."

There is a section that a student must fill out regarding past/present conditions.. and theres a section the doc fills out that includes a short statement of past medical history. Will I really be able to withhold the information?

What do you guys think? Is this standard?

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Specializes in Pedi.

That is a waiver allowing THEM to release the information they gather on you to your clinical placements not a waiver allowing them to get your medical records from your personal doctors. Hospitals require that your immunizations are up to date and that you have a negative TB test, that's all you need to provide them with. They will not have access to notes from your MD.

Yes, this is standard but as they state that the purpose of them establishing a health record on you is to protect you as well as the clients with whom you'll be interacting. They need to make sure you don't have TB and are immune to communicable diseases like measles, mumps, rubella and varicella. A short history of anorexia years ago has no bearing on any of this and I see no reason why you'd even have to disclose it, nor why it would affect your acceptance into the program. If you have something like diabetes, your school should know only so they are aware in the event of an emergency.

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Thank you for your answer KelRN215, you have allayed my fears.

I'm still at a loss to see why they would need (or request, rather) information on a history of things that will have absolutely no bearing on your ability to perform your duties. Seems suspicious, that's why I feared it would be a disqualifying factor...

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I found out the hard way that when you go for a physical, your prescription hx becomes available. So,...make sure your physical is done by your own doc. and not the school.

You had a physical done by the school? We don't have that option. I'm gonna go to my GP.

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